The final "ta/tha" doesn't sound like TAble, but THAi.
So? The Bhagvat Gita, far from calling war futile, urges man to righteous war.
Just because the Pandavas fight for theit kingdom doesn't mean the story glorifies war. The way the war ends, and the fact that an entire Parva is devoted to the lamentation of the wives, makes it clear that the author(s) thinks that even a righteous war is futile. The Pandavas lose all their relatives, including all their sons. Even their grandson is killed in his mother's womb, and survives only because Krishna intervenes.
Krishna's own people become arrogant over their survival, and self-destruct. The Pandavas find no joy in their success. The story goes to great lengths to show that yes, the "good" side triumphed, but at a cost too great to the characters. And the death of the great heroes in the war is to serve as a reminder, a warning that greed should not triumph over morals, but the characters are aware that in the Age of Kali, such incidents will happen again and again. What was the point of the war, then?
It sounds like you are talking exclusively about the Gita. The Mahabharata does not emphasize the futility of war. Quite the opposite - the Pandavas have to fight to regain their kingdom.
So? The Bhagvat Gita, far from calling war futile, urges man to righteous war.
Just because the Pandavas fight for theit kingdom doesn't mean the story glorifies war. The way the war ends, and the fact that an entire Parva is devoted to the lamentation of the wives, makes it clear that the author(s) thinks that even a righteous war is futile. The Pandavas lose all their relatives, including all their sons. Even their grandson is killed in his mother's womb, and survives only because Krishna intervenes.
Krishna's own people become arrogant over their survival, and self-destruct. The Pandavas find no joy in their success. The story goes to great lengths to show that yes, the "good" side triumphed, but at a cost too great to the characters. And the death of the great heroes in the war is to serve as a reminder, a warning that greed should not triumph over morals, but the characters are aware that in the Age of Kali, such incidents will happen again and again. What was the point of the war, then?
This message last edited by fionwe1987 on 03/07/2010 at 08:56:19 PM
One simple question:
01/07/2010 11:00:44 PM
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Lolita *NM*
01/07/2010 11:13:10 PM
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Have you read Pale Fire? *NM*
03/07/2010 12:14:56 AM
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No, I haven't. I have, however, been meaning to read The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov...
03/07/2010 12:36:39 AM
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Re: No, I haven't. I have, however, been meaning to read The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov...
03/07/2010 12:38:22 AM
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Is it unfinished? I seem to recall that, but I could be mistaken... *NM*
03/07/2010 02:15:07 AM
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Pale Fire is an excellent novel, particularly if you like making fun of Robert Frost.
03/07/2010 06:39:29 PM
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I've always planned on reading it.
04/07/2010 06:30:31 PM
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I've read all of Pelevin's books other than t, which recently was released.
04/07/2010 06:40:04 PM
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Sorry. I'm going to have to get back to you on this later.
04/07/2010 07:22:31 PM
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No problem. I'm stinking drunk and blew up shit to celebrate America's independence.
05/07/2010 05:03:42 AM
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Paradise Lost *NM*
01/07/2010 11:23:22 PM
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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
01/07/2010 11:31:52 PM
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What is it about?
03/07/2010 12:14:27 AM
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The Aeneid, the Iliad, the Odyssey, and Macbeth come to mind. *NM*
02/07/2010 02:29:13 AM
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I'm amazed by these responses.
02/07/2010 07:10:31 PM
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I spent most of my time trying to decide...
02/07/2010 07:22:26 PM
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Well. I mean a book/story that you thought was pretty close to perfection.
02/07/2010 08:02:55 PM
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You are not excused.
02/07/2010 11:40:16 PM
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Wow. That read enough like Tom that I had to check to make sure it was you. *NM*
02/07/2010 11:57:26 PM
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I take that as a compliment and concur completely with Larry's statement.
03/07/2010 06:48:05 PM
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You make me want to sing
05/07/2010 02:32:37 PM
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And you make me want to cover my ears
05/07/2010 07:57:12 PM
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What is yours?
05/07/2010 05:19:23 AM
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Wraeththu by Storm Constantine is mine.
05/07/2010 07:51:59 AM
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Easy. The Mahabharatha...
02/07/2010 11:55:27 PM
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Don't tell Roh.
03/07/2010 12:13:57 AM
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Which one?
03/07/2010 12:59:43 AM
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Re: Which one?
05/07/2010 05:28:08 PM
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There's a "proper one"?
06/07/2010 06:03:55 PM
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Re: I sent her Kamala Subramaniam's translation.
09/07/2010 08:20:43 AM
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Ahhh... One of my favorites...
09/07/2010 05:24:55 PM
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Re: Parva is not a translation of the MB, though, is it. It's a reinterpretation. Which is fine.
09/07/2010 11:01:43 PM
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It's spelled "Mahabharata".
03/07/2010 06:51:09 PM
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That's not how it is pronounced though...
03/07/2010 08:54:27 PM
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Traditional pronunciation vs. modern pronunciation
03/07/2010 09:47:52 PM
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I learned Sanskrit for years...
04/07/2010 01:28:34 AM
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However...
04/07/2010 02:31:00 AM
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See, I was taught that ध produced the sound in "that" and थ the sound in "thought".
04/07/2010 02:44:56 AM
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Re: I should have read the thread before bothering to give my skimpy response!
09/07/2010 08:26:35 AM
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American Gods. *NM*
03/07/2010 04:49:18 AM
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I really wanted to enjoy that a lot. It was good, but not amazing, imo.
05/07/2010 05:28:53 PM
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Shogun
03/07/2010 03:08:04 PM
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huh. I always felt that...
05/07/2010 10:00:29 PM
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I really liked Tai Pan as well.
06/07/2010 12:37:58 PM
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I'd have to say Noble House is the most impressive of the three.
06/07/2010 01:30:11 PM
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A few that come to mind: Doctor Zhivago, Master & Margarita and Brothers Karamazov
03/07/2010 06:53:25 PM
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